A Welsh Government scheme aimed at getting youngsters into work has created almost 1,000 jobs in the Caerphilly County Borough area.
Jobs Growth Wales is designed to tackle youth unemployment by providing funding to companies for new employees aged between 16 and 24.
The aim is for businesses to grow significantly during a six-month period to allow them to take on the paid-for member of staff permanently.
Since the scheme was launched in April 2012, 943 jobs have been created in Caerphilly County Borough.
Eighty percent of participants go on to take up jobs, apprenticeships or further training opportunities.
On top of the job opportunities created, 220 young entrepreneurs across Wales have been supported by Jobs Growth Wales bursaries.
Caerphilly AM Jeff Cuthbert, who is also Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty, has welcomed the figures.
He said: “This is great news, approaching 1,000 young people in Caerphilly Borough are seeing the benefit of Jobs Growth Wales.
“The Welsh Labour Government will continue in its quest to drive down youth unemployment, which contrasts greatly with Tory governments past and present.”
But statistics from March this year showed across Wales there were 150,000 Jobs Growth Wales applications for just 11,000 posts. 8,700 young people found jobs for at least six months, usually on minimum wage.
More: Young people call for more to be done to battle youth unemployment and zero-hour contracts
The Caerphilly Observer paper, or this on line version would not exist without Jobs Growth Wales and other EU Grants. so they must be part of Jeff`s statistics?